With Sata increasing his pay twice, UNZA students riot over meal allowance

In just four days, University of Zambia in the capital Lusaka, has erupted into yet another riot this time students demanding their meal allowances, according to Zambia Reports

About 30 students were on Thursday evening arrested and detained in various police stations in Lusaka. Police as usual fired teargas cannisters and were by Friday morning still sorrounnding the University.

On Monday, the country’s biggest learning institution was ablaze with roadside fire and protests that police quelled following announcements that it would close prematurely.

The varsity was scheduled to close on September 1 barely a month after opening for the new semester to pave way for renovations as it had been picked as the SADC Games Village in December.

Six students were arrested but later released following the Monday riots. That was the second time the students were protesting in barely a month. The government was forced to back-track on premature closure opting to do renovations in bits and pieces.

In June, the students protested the indefinite delay to re-open the campus following a dispute between lecturers and the school management.

The institution is in turmoil after students, again, stormed the streets displaying their anger over delayed meal allowances.

President Michael Sata has twice increased his salary between April and August by more than 100 percent, much to the displeasure of the students.

Police have been called in to restore order and peace at the institution and reports from the campus indicate tear gas canisters has been fired at the campus.

The Great East Road – the main linkage between Lusaka CBD and the airport and the eastern part of the city is closed – as the students attempted to damage public property.

In the Monday riots, vehicles and members of the public that were using the Great East Road were caught up in the confusion leading to injuries and damage to property.

There is growing dissent to President Sata’s rule with majority of youths growing impatient after the ruling Patriotic Front leader Michael Sata’s deceitful 90 days campaign theory has lamentably failed to yield anything tangible.